Small Business Licenses and Permits

State-by-State Small Business Registration Information

The process of starting a small business involves a number of steps, one of which is registering your business and acquiring the necessary licenses and permits.

Most small businesses in the U.S. must register in their local counties, then follow the licensing restrictions set by the state, depending on the type of business being registered. Each state has its own website that outlines the requirements for business registration and provides resources that will help business owners in each state.

Licenses, Permits, and Regulations for Your Small Business

The list below includes links to state pages on the Small Business Administration (SBA) website. The SBA has compiled state-by-state information on small business registration, license, and permit information. We have also included links (where available) to each state's small business division that provides the most accurate and up-to-date small business information for each state, including details on starting and growing a small business.